Positioning apparatus of a collapsible umbrella

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a positioning apparatus of a collapsible umbrella, which includes a runner composed of a connector and a receiver being placed around a shaft having several tubes. A positioning apparatus is provided in a top tube of the shaft, which includes a rod connecting with a bow. The bow will be inclined outward to engage with the connector for positioning the runner and the umbrella in stable as the umbrella is opened. The bow has its bottom end an arched convex being placed in the receiver that facilitates user to close the umbrella more conveniently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A collapsible umbrella has a small volume for easy carrying when it is closed. Such umbrella includes a shaft composed of several tubes and a frame containing several ribs. The shaft can be designed with its the upper tube larger than the lower tube or in reverse. The umbrella with the upper tube smaller than the lower tube will be better in decreasing the closed volume but is not stable when the umbrella is operated and opened. The known umbrella with such shaft cannot obtain a stable opening state that is a drawback and should be improved.

The present invention is to provide a positioning apparatus of a collapsible umbrella having a shaft with small upper tube and large lower tube, which can facilitate the umbrella more stably in opening state. Now, accompanying with the following drawings, the character of the present invention will be described here and after.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing parts of the collapsible umbrella with a positioning apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembled cross-sectional plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view showing parts of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view showing parts of the collapsible umbrella in opening state according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view of FIG. 4 showing an operation of closing the umbrella.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a modified structure of the collapsible umbrella in opening state according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional plan view showing another modified positioning apparatus of the collapsible umbrella according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to 3, the present invention relates to an improved collapsible umbrella having a shaft (1) with a first tube (11), a second tube (12), and so on, wherein the first tube (11) is the smallest one and the second tube (12) is larger than the first tube (11) only, and the lowest tube is the largest one. The umbrella also includes a runner (2) and a frame (3) with several ribs, wherein the runner (2) contains a connector (21) and a receiver (22). The receiver (22) has two elastic slices (23) to engage with relating opening (24) of the connector (21). The frame (3) has its inner ends connect with an upper joint (4) and the runner (2) pivotally. The characteristic of the present invention is to provide a positioning apparatus within the first tube (11) of the shaft (1), which is a positioning rod (5) having a central slot (51). A bow (53) is connected in the slot (51) by a pin (52), wherein a small spring (54) is placed on a side of the bow (53) to provide an elastic force for the bow (53) being inclined. The lower end of the bow (53) is formed an arched convex (55).

In opening state of the umbrella, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of the bow (53) is pushed outward to pass through a slot (111) of the first tube (11) and to engage with a slot (25) on the connector (21). At this time, the umbrella is accordingly positioned in stable. On the other hand, the lower convex (25) of the bow (53) is just received in a concave (26) formed in the receiver (22). Hence, when a user pulls the runner (2) downward, as shown in FIG. 5, the receiver (22) presses the convex (25) that forces the top end of the bow (53) moved inward and leaved from the slot (25) of the connector (21). The runner (2) is then released and the umbrella can be closed as the runner (2) moved downward along the shaft (1).

Above all, the present invention obtains utility and effect that should be allowed for patent. It is also to be understood that the above-mentioned embodiments are only exemplary of the present invention. Any modification with the same or similar merit is still claimed in this application, such as shown in FIG. 6, a rib (31) of the frame (3) is provided with an inner stand (32) at a position relating to the slot (25) of the connector (21). When the umbrella is opened, the stand (32) has its inner end contact with the first tube (11) and keep the first tube (11) being stable at a right position. Referring to FIG. 7, it shows another embodiment of the positioning apparatus, which includes two intercrossed bows (53), (53′) connected in the rod (51). The connector (21) has two relating slots and the first tube (11) also has the relating slots for engagement and positioning therebetween that reaches a similar effect of this invention. 

1. A positioning apparatus of a collapsible umbrella including a shaft with several tubes, a runner and a frame with several ribs, wherein the runner contains a connector and a receiver, the characteristic is to provide a positioning apparatus within a top first tube of the shaft, which is a positioning rod having a central slot, a bow connected in the slot by a pin, wherein a small spring is placed on a side of the bow to provide an elastic force for the bow being inclined, and the lower end of the bow formed an arched convex.
 2. The positioning apparatus of a collapsible umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rib of the frame is provided with an inner stand, which has its inner end contact with the first tube and keep the first tube being stable at a right position as the umbrella is opened.
 3. The positioning apparatus of a collapsible umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein two intercrossed bows are connected in the rod of the positioning apparatus, while the connector and the first tube are provided with relating slots. 